Actions at Town Meeting were disturbing

Tuesday

May 1, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 1, 2007 at 1:20 AM

To the Editor:

I attended my last Town Meeting for the town of Marshfield, which was held on Monday, April 23. It just convinced me that despite your good intentions and attempts to perform your civic duty, such meetings should never be held on the night of a full moon or a day preceding or after one.

I attended my last Town Meeting for the town of Marshfield, which was held on Monday, April 23. It just convinced me that despite your good intentions and attempts to perform your civic duty, such meetings should never be held on the night of a full moon or a day preceding or after one.

Briefly, after walking over one-half mile with an injured leg and then waiting in line for 12 to 15 minutes to find out what precinct I am in, which I should know but they seem to change it each time I vote or inquire about it, I had to wait with scores of others to ascertain that fact. When I did find out, I had to wait in another line in my assigned precinct to be signed in, have my hand stamped and given a chit to enter the gymnasium.

As I entered the hall and the meeting had been in progress for about 10 minutes — so I know nothing of the prelude leading to this vote —the moderator called for a vote as to whether the meeting should be adjourned for that evening and postponed to the following night. I don’t know who might have suggested such a ridiculous move but the gym, by the time I got in, was filled to capacity and few, if any, seats were available. But can you imagine anyone making such a motion with a near-overflow crowd? On second thought, after listening to a few who spoke, I can understand it, and that seems to be the major part of the problem.

The moderator then announced that each person in attendance would only be allowed one turn at the microphone, yet during the relatively short period I was there, four of five of the same individuals spoke at the mike several times. As a consequence, I never did see the moderator’s intent to limit appearances invoked so as to have the meeting proceed without such boring and nonsensical comments being made, as I did not stay long enough to see if that become a reality.

As some town officials explained their budget situations and a projector showed the figures on a large screen in the front of the gym, one gentleman, and the only one I could identify with, approached the microphone and stated that he was a man of average intelligence and held three degrees, yet he did not have the slightest notion as to what the moderator and officials were talking about. I felt exactly the same, so what is the sense in attending if a relative handful of people can control and manipulate the meeting to the disgust of so many others in attendance and prevent the knowledge which is necessary from being disseminated?

I must stress that the town officials are not without blame for the chaos I witnessed. It should have been publicized well in advance, in local papers such as yours, as to the precinct in which a certain household is located, reducing somewhat some of the confusion which was present on Monday evening. Then the issuance of the handout, apparently supplied by those same officials, did not go far enough in adequately explaining the proposed expenditures and led to many of those in attendance, but especially that handful trying to control the meeting, to raise their hand and say, “Question,” “Question,” “Question,” as each budget item was brought up. I honestly do not believe that their questions were in the best interest of informing those present as it was to have their “moment in the spotlight,” while also in their own way serving to delay the meeting and frustrate those present.

I can’t help but wonder, after attending quite a few of these Town Meetings, whether this form of government should not have died with Daniel Webster and a mayor and City Council form of government established to replace it and present their constituents’ feelings at its regular meetings. In this way, the issue would be resolved then and not wait until once a year, as is presently the case. In any event, I strongly feel the present method of conducting town business leaves much to be desired. And those Town Meetings should never be held on the night of a full moon.

You could say it was a very disturbing exhibition of democracy in action. And that is truly sad.